Pettersen up by 4 at LPGA's stop in Taiwan

TAOYUAN, Taiwan, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Suzann Pettersen, despite a slow start Saturday, takes a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship.

Pettersen, the event's defending champion, had three bogeys in the first five holes of the third round and settled for a 1-over-par 73. She's at 6-under 210 for the tournament.

Azahara Munoz carded a 3-under 69 and is tied with Carlota Ciganda and Yoo Sun-young, who each were even 72 Saturday, for second at 2-under.

Caroline Hedwall, also with a 72 in the third round, and Beatriz Recari, who was 1-over Saturday, are tied for fifth at even-par 216.

Those are the only players at par or better.

Pettersen led by five strokes after Friday's second round but eroded her lead with bogeys at 2, 4 and 5 to open the day. That pulled Yoo to as close as one stroke of the lead before Pettersen gave herself some room with birdies at 8 and 13. She had a fourth bogey at 17 but closed with a birdie.

Munoz had a third-hole bogey but was 4-under the rest of the way Saturday. Yoo mixed two birdies and two bogeys for her 72 while Ciganda had a third-hole double bogey along with one bogey and three birdies.